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The NBA season is picking up steam and will continue on Monday night. The Milwaukee Bucks will hit the road and face off against the Indiana Pacers. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Bucks-Pacers prediction and pick.
The NBA Champion Bucks are seeking to repeat last year’s success. They’re off to a solid 2-1 start but will definitely be looking to pick things up. The Pacers have been in some exciting games that didn’t go their way. Indiana was two possessions away from being 3-0, but are sitting at 1-2 as of now.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the Bucks-Pacers odds for Monday’s matchup.
NBA Odds: Bucks-Pacers Odds
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Milwaukee Bucks: -2 (-110)
Indiana Pacers: +2 (-110)
Over: 230 (-110)
Under: 230 (-110)
Why The Bucks Could Cover The Spread
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The reigning NBA champion Bucks are a great team. They have kept the most important pieces from last year’s championship run and are looking to run it back this season. If they hope to do so they will need to take down some of the up and coming teams, like the Pacers. The Bucks one loss this season came by a devastating margin to the Miami Heat. Outside of that game, Milwaukee has looked good. They took care of the Nets without a problem and were able to handle the Spurs as well. Milwaukee will look to carry this momentum into their matchup with Indiana.
Leading the way for Milwaukee is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has cemented himself as one of, if not the best player in the league. Giannis dominates games and will be a huge factor in this contest. He is averaging nearly 23 points and 11 rebounds a game across only 28 minutes. On top of that, Giannis is shooting threes at a career high 33%. The thought of Giannis being able to consistently knock down shots is one that terrifies his opponents. Giannis will look to kick things into high gear against the Pacers and lead his team to a decisive victory.
Behind Giannis is a stacked Bucks squad. The number two, Khris Middleton, has been having a solid season. He’s coming off a 28 point game and is one of those players that can’t be left alone. Middleton is a scoring threat at all times he is on the court. Beyond Middleton, the Bucks have just been playing solid team basketball. In their game against San Antonio six players had 10 or more points and 5 of them had 15 or more. Milwaukee spreads the ball around and will be a very tough match for Indiana.
Why The Pacers Could Cover The Spread
The Indiana Pacers are an underrated team. They are often overlooked but have quietly established themselves as a strong force in the NBA. Indiana could easily be 3-0 right now. They started the season off with two games that came down to the final possession, but neither went their way. The Pacers have a strong roster and a lot of potential this season.
The face of this Pacers team has become Domantas Sabonis. The sixth year forward has been consistently getting better and looks poised for a breakout season. He is starting off strong, averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds a game while shooting the ball a very efficient 63%. If the Bucks hope to win this game they will need to contain Sabonis. However, if Sabonis can go to work against Milwaukee then the Pacers could win this game.
Another bright spot in this Pacers team has been Chris Duarte. With the injury to Caris LeVert, rookie Chris Duarte has gotten a chance to prove his value to this team. Many rookies have an adjustment period to the NBA, but Duarte has been solid. He is getting the playing time and opportunity to grow into a good NBA player. If Duarte gets going on Monday night then Pacers fans should feel good about this game and future games to come.
Final Bucks-Pacers Prediction & Pick
The Milwaukee Bucks are the better team here. They are coming off a championship season and, minus one fluke loss to the Heat, they have not lost a step. The Bucks are serious contenders this season and could definitely repeat last year's success. While the Pacers shouldn’t be overlooked, they are not quite the same caliber as Milwaukee. They have strong pieces and young talent, but they aren’t as developed as Milwaukee. It’s surprising that the line is as thin as it is, the Bucks should be bigger favorites heading into this match. Pick the Bucks to win and cover and get ready to watch the Greek Freak dominate.
FINAL BUCKS-PACERS PICK: Milwaukee Bucks -2 (-110)
FINAL BUCKS-PACERS SCORE PREDICTION: Bucks 115 – Pacers 110
